Best Buy Employees Hoarded Black Friday Laptops?

It’s hard enough to give up part of Thanksgiving and camp in a cold parking lot to get a great deal. But some Best Buy employees allegedly made the experience absolutely miserable by passing over some customers and playing favorites. One family waited in line for 14 hours and didn’t get the computer they wanted and watched as a Best Buy employee smuggled a voucher for the same laptop to his girlfriend.

One of the most sought-after Black Friday laptops was the Toshiba A135-S7403, for $229. Each Best Buy store had at least 15 in stock, along with dozens of other Black Friday laptops. To maintain a sense of order, Best Buy managers were supposed to hand out vouchers on a first-come, first-serve basis. But according to one of our readers, the Best Buy managers at the Elmwood Shopping Center Best Buy in New Orleans passed out a handful of vouchers, despite having dozens of notebooks in stock.

Brandi shared her family’s Black Friday ordeal in the below email. She ended up getting a laptop (but not the one she wanted), while her sister and father waited in line for nothing. If everything she says is accurate, I think the employees responsible for holding back laptops should be fired and Best Buy should do something for Brandi’s family.

Brandi’s email:

My sister, dad, and myself get in the Best Buy line at 3:00 PM Thursday afternoon. We had no problems in the line besides being cold and tired. Everyone else in line was really nice and we were doing pretty good, until the vouchers came out. We were #28, 29, and 30 in line. When the Toshiba and Sony vouchers came out there were none left by the time they got to us.

We were like WHAT?! Everyone in front of us wasn’t getting laptops. The desktop vouchers were even gone. I managed to get the last HP laptop voucher, but my dad and sister weren’t so lucky.

So, my dad asked one of the passing Best Buy workers what happened to all the vouchers. She told us that there was only 2 Toshiba bundles, 5 Sony notebooks, 3 Sony bundles, 7 HP laptops and 3 HP bundles. The ad said there were supposed to be 15 of each per store. We knew she was lying because one of Best Buy’s employees that was waiting in line with his girlfriend told us that this is the store he works at and they got 15 of each computer except the Toshiba bundle, there was 20 of those.

What set our blood to boil was what happened next. The girl with the boyfriend who works there didn’t get a voucher. She was about 7 spots behind us in line and she wasnÃƒÆ’Ã‚¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t going to get anything she came there for. She started throwing a fit outside, crying and yelling.

Well, her boyfriend comes walking outside with something under his shirt. He pulls out the voucher, hands it to her then walks away. She opens it and is as quiet as can be. My dad says that he thinks that boy snuck her out a computer voucher. He walks over to her and asks her did she finally get a computer. She tells him that her boyfriend brought her out a Toshiba bundle voucher. Only 2 vouchers Best Buy? Yeah right!!! When we went in the store, there were loads of those $229 Toshiba’s locked in a case, along with Sonys and HPs.

Once we got our computer we noticed a flyer saying $100 off any computer purchase instantly if you sign up for high speed Internet service. I said pretty good deal since its instant. I went to one of the workers to ask him about it, he called another guy over and told him to help us. That guy said he didn’t know how to do it and the original guy we asked told him there was a walk through on the computer. So we followed him to the computer and he is struggling trying to figure out how to work it. He tells us that he isn’t a sales associate but only works the cash register. So we get this guy who has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. Then he tells us the computer system is down. I don’t believe it was down, I just think he didn’t know how to do it and didn’t want to be bothered. How in the world could your computer system be down on the busiest shopping day of the year, the day when you need your computers the most? So we went to the store manager to ask him to help us w/ it and he tells us he’s too busy to go to customer service. I said forget it, I just want to buy my computer and get the hell out of there.

Here’s where the fun really begins. We are at the checkout counter and the girl is ringing us up. She tells me the total then I remember that I’m a rewards member but I don’t have my card. She says ok and to swipe my card. I swipe it then ask her if she credited my points, she replies “NO!”. I ask her how am I supposed to get my points credited, she says “I don’t know.” The only reason I am making such a big fuss is because I just signed up for it and I can get double points if I spent a certain amount over holiday shopping. So, she calls the manager over and the manager tells her to void out the transaction and credit my points.

I’m told to swipe my card again. I say “Wait, was the money already taken from my account?”. The manager says yes but since they voided that transaction the money should be released within 1-3 business days. Which means instead of me paying $489.12 I’m paying $978.24 until my credit card company decides to release half of it. I tell her that now I can’t do any more shopping because Best Buy is getting all my money. That manager gets annoyed and walks off.

The girl at the register calls another manager and explains the situation to her. She tells me I have one of 2 options: swipe my card again, or leave the computer with them until I call my credit card company and straighten it out. I said that I have been waiting in line for 14 hours for this computer and there was no way I was leaving it because who’s to say that when I come back it’ll still be there, and I am not swiping my card again because I am paying close to $1000 and won’t be able to do any other shopping.

My dad says that their corporate office will hear about this, the manager says “Great, tell ’em, my name is Lisa, see it on my shirt.” She then calls ANOTHER manager over and starts telling me the same thing. I just start breaking out in tears and telling him that I’m being penalized for something that isn’t even my fault; it was the cashier who didn’t know what she was doing. I’m crying so bad right now that he begins to feel bad and tells me he’s going to call my credit card company and get it taken care of. He get all my information, comes back in about 15 minutes, and tells me that they just released the original $489.12 and I can swipe my card again. Why couldn’t the 1st manager just do this for me, it took for me to break down and cry to get them to help me?

Finally, we get home and its after 8:30 ÃƒÆ’Ã‚¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ãƒ¢Ã¢â€š¬Ã… we live 10 minutes from the store. We were inside that store for over 3 hours. My whole day was ruined. I didn’t even want to go out shopping anymore. My dad gets on the phone with corporate and explains what happened to them. The rep didnÃƒÆ’Ã‚¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ãƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t believe him. My dad asks to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor tells my dad that what he is telling him is “hear say” and can’t verify anything my dad is telling him to be true. He was even asking my dad to tell him the color of the voucher that was given to the girlfriend and the color of the words written on it. After nothing but back and forth between them, he finally realizes what my dad is telling him is true; either that or he just wants my dad off the phone. This is my first real Black Friday shopping experience and waiting in that line was more enjoyable than actually getting in that store and buying what I wanted. This had to be my worst ordeal I’ve ever had to endure in a store, EVER!

The computer I bought wasn’t even the computer I waited in line to buy. I came for the Toshiba bundle for $229, but after only handing out 2 vouchers for those, they magically were “out”. I ended up getting the very last voucher for their supply of computers. I bought the HP-Pavilion dv6607nr for $449; $489.12 after tax. There was a $200 instant rebate. This happened at the Best Buy in New Orleans, LA at the Elmood Shopping Center location.

61 Responses

I’m not surprized at all that you had a bad experience with Best Buy. I was threatened with security guards in Des Moines,Ia. Best Buy because I insisted that a computer I had purchased didn’t have the programs installed that they advertized. Believe it or not!

I’m not surprized at all that you had a bad experience with Best Buy. I was threatened with security guards in Des Moines,Ia. Best Buy because I insisted that a computer I had purchased didn’t have the programs installed that they advertized. Believe it or not!

I’m not surprized at all that you had a bad experience with Best Buy. I was threatened with security guards in Des Moines,Ia. Best Buy because I insisted that a computer I had purchased didn’t have the programs installed that they advertized. Believe it or not!

People are just greedy and selfish. It’s sad. I don’t think I will ever go wait in line at a store. If I do a black friday deal, I’ll try for it online like a lot of them did. It’s just not worth wasting 12 hours of my life in the cold sitting around waiting for the *possibility* of getting a good deal.

People are just greedy and selfish. It’s sad. I don’t think I will ever go wait in line at a store. If I do a black friday deal, I’ll try for it online like a lot of them did. It’s just not worth wasting 12 hours of my life in the cold sitting around waiting for the *possibility* of getting a good deal.

People are just greedy and selfish. It’s sad. I don’t think I will ever go wait in line at a store. If I do a black friday deal, I’ll try for it online like a lot of them did. It’s just not worth wasting 12 hours of my life in the cold sitting around waiting for the *possibility* of getting a good deal.

Will- agree that she did get a better computer than she’d originally planned, but the problem is that the family was hoping to get 3 notebooks. The girl behind them had no business getting a voucher for a laptop.

Will- agree that she did get a better computer than she’d originally planned, but the problem is that the family was hoping to get 3 notebooks. The girl behind them had no business getting a voucher for a laptop.

Will- agree that she did get a better computer than she’d originally planned, but the problem is that the family was hoping to get 3 notebooks. The girl behind them had no business getting a voucher for a laptop.

I used to work @Best Buy-was employed there once over Black Friday. This happens all the time!!! The employees will go through the store and snag what they can. However, I have also witnessed this happenning at Target stores as well.
The only advice I have is this…stay away from Best Buy! 14 hours in line…yeah, you got a good deal…but was it worth the aggravation at the end of the day? I think not!
Here is a great site for EVERYONE: http://www.bestbuysux.org You will then see the pain everone goes through with this store!

I used to work @Best Buy-was employed there once over Black Friday. This happens all the time!!! The employees will go through the store and snag what they can. However, I have also witnessed this happenning at Target stores as well.
The only advice I have is this…stay away from Best Buy! 14 hours in line…yeah, you got a good deal…but was it worth the aggravation at the end of the day? I think not!
Here is a great site for EVERYONE: http://www.bestbuysux.org You will then see the pain everone goes through with this store!

I used to work @Best Buy-was employed there once over Black Friday. This happens all the time!!! The employees will go through the store and snag what they can. However, I have also witnessed this happenning at Target stores as well.
The only advice I have is this…stay away from Best Buy! 14 hours in line…yeah, you got a good deal…but was it worth the aggravation at the end of the day? I think not!
Here is a great site for EVERYONE: http://www.bestbuysux.org You will then see the pain everone goes through with this store!

WOW!!! that was an ordeal. I feel for you and good luck with any sort of actions you plan to take for further resolve. I guess i will count my blessings. I went to circuit city…only 15 minutes before the store was to open, so i didnt have a lot of time invested but while standing there a store employee came out and was answering questions and directing people so the could go STRAIGHT to the item they were waiting for. To my surprise, the $299 hp C717NR that they advertised was sold out…BEFORE THEY EVEN OPENED THE DOORS. I double checked the ad. There was no “minimums” listed for CC. Its a type of bait and switch. They get you there with the ads and if you dont get what you are standing in line for, they assume you will buy something else considering the amount of time you have vested camping out in line. Oh yeah, Thursday night I checked ebay for this same hp computer. 7 or 8 were listed. Now there are 60 or so…the same ones from circuit city. People making a profit off their standing in line. Its the American way!!!! (oh yeah, as soon as i found out they were “sold out”, i went home back to bed)

WOW!!! that was an ordeal. I feel for you and good luck with any sort of actions you plan to take for further resolve. I guess i will count my blessings. I went to circuit city…only 15 minutes before the store was to open, so i didnt have a lot of time invested but while standing there a store employee came out and was answering questions and directing people so the could go STRAIGHT to the item they were waiting for. To my surprise, the $299 hp C717NR that they advertised was sold out…BEFORE THEY EVEN OPENED THE DOORS. I double checked the ad. There was no “minimums” listed for CC. Its a type of bait and switch. They get you there with the ads and if you dont get what you are standing in line for, they assume you will buy something else considering the amount of time you have vested camping out in line. Oh yeah, Thursday night I checked ebay for this same hp computer. 7 or 8 were listed. Now there are 60 or so…the same ones from circuit city. People making a profit off their standing in line. Its the American way!!!! (oh yeah, as soon as i found out they were “sold out”, i went home back to bed)

WOW!!! that was an ordeal. I feel for you and good luck with any sort of actions you plan to take for further resolve. I guess i will count my blessings. I went to circuit city…only 15 minutes before the store was to open, so i didnt have a lot of time invested but while standing there a store employee came out and was answering questions and directing people so the could go STRAIGHT to the item they were waiting for. To my surprise, the $299 hp C717NR that they advertised was sold out…BEFORE THEY EVEN OPENED THE DOORS. I double checked the ad. There was no “minimums” listed for CC. Its a type of bait and switch. They get you there with the ads and if you dont get what you are standing in line for, they assume you will buy something else considering the amount of time you have vested camping out in line. Oh yeah, Thursday night I checked ebay for this same hp computer. 7 or 8 were listed. Now there are 60 or so…the same ones from circuit city. People making a profit off their standing in line. Its the American way!!!! (oh yeah, as soon as i found out they were “sold out”, i went home back to bed)

I have to say, there is a reason that I don’t go to Best Buy on Black Friday. Here in Columbia, Md the line was already down 3 big box stores AT 3 AM!!! I found out about the deals on the computers a month in advance, but didn’t really want one, especially since the employees get first pick. Staples did a bait and switch, the local one didn’t get ANY Compaq laptops, while the next closest one had 2…this is why shopping from Amazon is less stressful.

I have to say, there is a reason that I don’t go to Best Buy on Black Friday. Here in Columbia, Md the line was already down 3 big box stores AT 3 AM!!! I found out about the deals on the computers a month in advance, but didn’t really want one, especially since the employees get first pick. Staples did a bait and switch, the local one didn’t get ANY Compaq laptops, while the next closest one had 2…this is why shopping from Amazon is less stressful.

I have to say, there is a reason that I don’t go to Best Buy on Black Friday. Here in Columbia, Md the line was already down 3 big box stores AT 3 AM!!! I found out about the deals on the computers a month in advance, but didn’t really want one, especially since the employees get first pick. Staples did a bait and switch, the local one didn’t get ANY Compaq laptops, while the next closest one had 2…this is why shopping from Amazon is less stressful.

I had a bad situation at BB myself. I wanted the HP dv6607nr but the only three they had left were the ones pre-loaded with the geek squad advanced security setup for an additional $150. I was told I could take it or leave it. A little unfair I think!

I had a bad situation at BB myself. I wanted the HP dv6607nr but the only three they had left were the ones pre-loaded with the geek squad advanced security setup for an additional $150. I was told I could take it or leave it. A little unfair I think!

I had a bad situation at BB myself. I wanted the HP dv6607nr but the only three they had left were the ones pre-loaded with the geek squad advanced security setup for an additional $150. I was told I could take it or leave it. A little unfair I think!

In response to Chris’ rude comment. She probably is a college student w/ only a certain amount of credit. You don’t know her so don’t judge. You probably have a limit less than that so shut up and stop trying to be a jerk!

In response to Chris’ rude comment. She probably is a college student w/ only a certain amount of credit. You don’t know her so don’t judge. You probably have a limit less than that so shut up and stop trying to be a jerk!

In response to Chris’ rude comment. She probably is a college student w/ only a certain amount of credit. You don’t know her so don’t judge. You probably have a limit less than that so shut up and stop trying to be a jerk!

How many brain surgeons do you expect to meet wearing a BB employee badge? Of course there were screwups and chicanery. Just remember that you have the upper hand. You have limited money to chase unlimited stuff. They have to come to you. There’s only one you. There’s always more stuff.

How many brain surgeons do you expect to meet wearing a BB employee badge? Of course there were screwups and chicanery. Just remember that you have the upper hand. You have limited money to chase unlimited stuff. They have to come to you. There’s only one you. There’s always more stuff.

How many brain surgeons do you expect to meet wearing a BB employee badge? Of course there were screwups and chicanery. Just remember that you have the upper hand. You have limited money to chase unlimited stuff. They have to come to you. There’s only one you. There’s always more stuff.

Um, it says right in the Rewards program brochure — and on the website — that you can go to the we bsite to get your “points” for purchases if you didn’t get the points in the store (because you forgot your card, etc.)

Why were you being such a whiny baby about it? And oh, poor you, “My whole day was ruined. I didnÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚Â¢t even want to go out shopping anymore.” Good. Don’t shop. You’re probably way overextended on your credit and can’t afford it. How about spending your Friday doing something to help people who are truly poor and have REAL problems, you greedy little witch?????

Um, it says right in the Rewards program brochure — and on the website — that you can go to the we bsite to get your “points” for purchases if you didn’t get the points in the store (because you forgot your card, etc.)

Why were you being such a whiny baby about it? And oh, poor you, “My whole day was ruined. I didnÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚Â¢t even want to go out shopping anymore.” Good. Don’t shop. You’re probably way overextended on your credit and can’t afford it. How about spending your Friday doing something to help people who are truly poor and have REAL problems, you greedy little witch?????

Um, it says right in the Rewards program brochure — and on the website — that you can go to the we bsite to get your “points” for purchases if you didn’t get the points in the store (because you forgot your card, etc.)

Why were you being such a whiny baby about it? And oh, poor you, “My whole day was ruined. I didnÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚Â¢t even want to go out shopping anymore.” Good. Don’t shop. You’re probably way overextended on your credit and can’t afford it. How about spending your Friday doing something to help people who are truly poor and have REAL problems, you greedy little witch?????

They should have told you that you could have called 1-888-BestBuy and given them the customer service number on the receipt and they would apply the Rewardzone points. I don’t know why they didn’t tell you that.

They should have told you that you could have called 1-888-BestBuy and given them the customer service number on the receipt and they would apply the Rewardzone points. I don’t know why they didn’t tell you that.

They should have told you that you could have called 1-888-BestBuy and given them the customer service number on the receipt and they would apply the Rewardzone points. I don’t know why they didn’t tell you that.

“My whole day was ruined. I didnâ€™t even want to go out shopping anymore.”

Are you kidding me? I agree that Best Buy didn’t handle things properly, but it sure sounds to me like you’re a whiney prima donna who shouldn’t be out on Black Friday. I’m willing to bet that you still managed to suck it up and get out there and shop, like a good little trooper.

“My whole day was ruined. I didnâ€™t even want to go out shopping anymore.”

Are you kidding me? I agree that Best Buy didn’t handle things properly, but it sure sounds to me like you’re a whiney prima donna who shouldn’t be out on Black Friday. I’m willing to bet that you still managed to suck it up and get out there and shop, like a good little trooper.

“My whole day was ruined. I didnâ€™t even want to go out shopping anymore.”

Are you kidding me? I agree that Best Buy didn’t handle things properly, but it sure sounds to me like you’re a whiney prima donna who shouldn’t be out on Black Friday. I’m willing to bet that you still managed to suck it up and get out there and shop, like a good little trooper.

The retard season is upon us once again. Greedy morons waiting in line for 2 days so they can BRAG to their friends about what a great deal they got. The b.i.t.c.h should just get a job at Best Buy so she can reap the rewards of “insider politics.”

Or, do the smart thing. Don’t ever shop there again. Buy your items online, have them shipped right to your front door…usually for free…and the $250 you save is not worth the $500 headache that accompanies it!

The retard season is upon us once again. Greedy morons waiting in line for 2 days so they can BRAG to their friends about what a great deal they got. The b.i.t.c.h should just get a job at Best Buy so she can reap the rewards of “insider politics.”

Or, do the smart thing. Don’t ever shop there again. Buy your items online, have them shipped right to your front door…usually for free…and the $250 you save is not worth the $500 headache that accompanies it!

The retard season is upon us once again. Greedy morons waiting in line for 2 days so they can BRAG to their friends about what a great deal they got. The b.i.t.c.h should just get a job at Best Buy so she can reap the rewards of “insider politics.”

Or, do the smart thing. Don’t ever shop there again. Buy your items online, have them shipped right to your front door…usually for free…and the $250 you save is not worth the $500 headache that accompanies it!

Seriously, what's with the crying though? I get it. You're upset, frustrated, angry. But for the love of god and the reputation of women everywhere, LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR OUTBURSTS! Could you imagine a man breaking down in tears because he's angry with how he's being treated? No. Stop with the tears. Either handle the situation in a mature manner, or cry in private.

Seriously, what's with the crying though? I get it. You're upset, frustrated, angry. But for the love of god and the reputation of women everywhere, LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR OUTBURSTS! Could you imagine a man breaking down in tears because he's angry with how he's being treated? No. Stop with the tears. Either handle the situation in a mature manner, or cry in private.